rbis roots and shoots committee newsletter jan. 2011
DESCRIPTION
Teaching students to love, respect, and care for their community, environment, and the Earth, is important to Roots & Shoots and Rainbow Bridge International School. RBIS's Roots & Shoots committee works with students, teachers, and parents to make our 'Green Goals' a reality. "The Roots & Shoots program is about making positive change happen―for our communities, for animals and for the environment. With tens of thousands of young people in almost 100 countries, the Roots & Shoots network connects youth of all ages who share a desire to create a better world. Young people identify problems in their communities and take action. Through service projects, youth-led campaigns and an interactive website, Roots & Shoots members are making a difference across the globe." www.rootsandshoots.org www.jgi-shanghai.orgTRANSCRIPT
Fr iday, January 21, 2011 Vo lume 2, I s sue 1
Roots and Shoots Committee News
Roots and Shoots was started by primatologist Jane Goodall in 1991 as a program to educate youths about environmental issues and humani-tarian values with a special focus on group interaction. In 2007, Shanghai Roots and Shoots launched the Million Tree Project to help fight global warming by planting oxygen-
producing trees in Inner Mongolia. The area of the project site suffers from desertification, causing severe sandstorms. The sandstorms destroy many local homes each year and force people to have to leave their homes. The Million Tree Project seeks help through corporate sponsorships and individual donations.
Ra inbow Br idge In ternat iona l Schoo l Roots and Shoots Commit tee
RBIS in action!
*2008-2009 goal:
1,000 trees
* 2009-10 goal: 1,500 trees!!
* * 2010-11 goal: 2,000 trees!!
The roots creep underground everywhere and make a firm foundation. Shoots seem very weak, but to reach the light they can break through brick walls. Imagine that the brick walls are all the problems we have inflicted on our planet. Hundreds and thousands of roots and shoots,
hundreds and thousands of young people around the world, can break through these walls. You can change the world!
- Dr. Jane Goodall
Information about Roots and Shoots
How can we help at RBIS? RBIS and Roots & Shoots are planting trees in Inner Mongolia! We are sending 2 teachers this year to Inner Mongolia to help plant trees for the Million Tree Project. Last year RBIS was able to offset our carbon footprint by planting over 1,500 trees in Inner Mongolia, thanks to all the hard work of the students and donations by the parents! This year we are challenging the RBIS community to do it again! Keep your eyes peeled for all of the fun fundraising events that we have planned in the next few months!
RBIS Roots and Shoots Committee The RBIS Roots and Shoots Committee is comprised of teachers who will be working on projects throughout the school year to help raise money for the Shanghai Roots and Shoots Million Tree Project. We are also developing
projects and organizing students and teachers around our own campus to raise awareness about environmentally friendly practices, and to reduce our carbon footprint within the school campus.
RBIS Roots and Shoots Committee Projects: Composting: In November we started composting and using classroom worm farms. We want children to learn through hands on experience about the biological process of turning vegetable, plant and paper waste into organic soil we use for the organic garden. The children can see the process work by maintaining
the worm farms and school compost.
Recycling: There are several recycling bins in the organic garden area of RBIS. Students, parents and RBIS staff are encouraged to bring in recyclable materials to add to the bins!
Newsletter Contents:
General Information……. 1 Silent Auction info……….. 2 Recycling at RBIS……………3
For more information about Roots and Shoots, visit: www.jgi-shanghai.org
Page 2 of 4 School Newsletter Page 3 of 4 School Newsletter Grade Level News Grade Level News
Fundraising+you+me=Funraising!
Buy a bear and you buy a tree in Mongolia. Give something that is both adorable and meaningful to a loved one this year! Hurry, though! There’s only one more week to purchase one before the New Year!
During the Winter Performance we had exceptional sales! Sales of T-shirts, bears, DVDs, and the gift baskets went well.
And thank you to all the individuals who bought trees in Inner Mongolia! With your
assistance we are ensuring that our children have a world to inherit!
The tree that has this leaf is one of the oldest trees in the world! Trees like this one were around when the dinosaurs roamed the world! This tree is sooo old it’s called a “living fossil.” I wonder what that means… If you look really hard around school, you may be able to find a leaf or two from this beautiful tree! Do you know its name?
Thank you RBIS staff and community! During our winter concerts we had several fundraisers – which thanks to you – were very successful! Without your support we couldn’t continue to make a lasting impact.
It’s freezing! It’s cold! It’s Chilly! Hurry, hurry! Get an RBIS Hoodie!
Before they’re gone, before they’re kaput-ie!
Before you say would-ie, could-ie, should-ie!
You’ll look great, not silly, In your RBIS Hoodie!